Jackson Jambalaya

More to it than just retiring is my thinking.

Preacher don't play.

@ 9:48AM: What do you mean, "preacher don't play?" This guy was most likely pressured into quitting based on his comments to the public. But, do you actually believe that the City of Jackson was NOT going to get sued anyway? The FACT is that you have ONE TO MANY lazy ass officers out there, and this is the norm in Jackson! I live here, so I know firsthand. Chief Horton was already dealing with some "scurviness" amongst JPD when he came aboard as chief. Since mayor Yarber wanted to replace him anyway, I hope the new guy can cut the mustard! I really hope it works out! But, they need to seriously clean house @ JPD - period!

More than a few cops were angered by his press conference last week. Said in no way he could call that a good investigation and that the police officers in question deserved more than a "behavior modification". Several told me they thought it was very unprofessional.

I hear Jimmy Houston is available.....oh, wait. He only has 40 years experience and a master's degree. He doesn't meet the qualifications for the City of Jackson.

Unprofessional, KF? Sounded like the truth, to me, and sounds like Chief Horton wasn't going to lie about that pathetic excuse for an "investigation". Jackson will miss Chief Horton.

Horton was very unprofessional! But, then when has Jackson had a Police Chief that was a professional? Maybe the current Mayor will make positive changes in this position. Getting a handle on crime is the only way Jackson can ever recover.

For those of you that know the law on Section 1983 cases against police know that Chief Horton essentially identified the policy and procedure that the JPD officers violated, which is usually one of the hardest parts of a Section 1983 lawsuit.

So he is out because he is honest? That makes perfect sense for this hellhole of a town.

How the hell are u gonna get a QUALIFIED chief if u look INTERNALLY? How do u discipline--inspire--LEAD people who have been ur drinkin buddies and pals for 25 years---it's the primary reason that officers are discouraged from "fraternizing" w da men!!! GET REAL!!

Would Sheriff Lewis be interested in the position?

They need to clear the entire command staff , the reason the department is poor is because the best Officers are leaving for better oppurtunities. JPD is eons behind other departments in tactics and technology. The paper report are obsolete this is a digital world now. The same people are playing musical chairs in that PD. An effective leader must resist the temptation to appoint buddies and followers, you have to promote other leaders. This police admin's time has passed it's time for competent new leadership.

Urge Mayor to consolidate police and sheriff depts---show courage to git r done---don't listen to people who say it can't be done --do it by force of will and let attorneys catch up later--dead broke--consolidate and reduce expenses and provide better services and we're gonna let ANTIQUATED bs laws stand in the way--come on!!!

Mac is available again.

Somebody in upper management had to fall on their sword for this. It shouldn't have stopped at just him though.

Baffles me how Kingfoot and a few others can call it 'unprofessional' when a city department head goes on television and levels, honestly, with the public. What's unprofessional about that. I suppose Kingfish would expect the chief to sit on his thumbs and wait to be called on by the mayor and allowed to read a prepared statement.

Kingfish doesn't know the meaning of professionalism. 'Several cops told me they thought he was unprofessional.' That's a lie.

Thank you 7:22. You are exactly right.

@1:50 the mayor has no authority over the sheriffs dept. The sheriffs dept has enough issues of its own without soaking up problems of the city. Shouldn't both agencies be held to higher standard and clean up their own messes?

The past Chief from Michigan had the right idea. No bell curve for promotion test scores. Screams of "That's not fair!"and "Don't do me like that!" were heard from the roof tops. Of course they got rid of him fast. I would love for an out of state applicant to tell them what they want to hear, take the job, and then fire the entire command staff, and hire more out of state talent. JPD doesn't have the kahuna's to hire outside the department! Lastly, nice work catching that poor butchered womans killer. Don't feel too proud though. After all it's your friggen job!!

Bring in an outsider and his team. Send a recruit team to Peoria, Illinois. The problem with J.P.D. is a huge lack of "diversity".

Waiting for someone with an ounce of credibility to identify just was unprofessional about a leader leveling with the public about the poor performance of his team members.

Consider for a moment the chief refusing to appear on camera but telling the Clarion bunch, "I'm looking into this and will comment at the appropriate time." The jackals would be calling for his head day and night. Instead, he had the balls to stand up and admit the failure of his department. That's anything but unprofessional.

Why not Lee Vance, he's always been a respectable man to me. And I do live in the city.

Why not Lee Vance, he is a respectable man

What he said wasn't unprofessional. It happens every football season when a coach gets up in front of a mic after his team gets their asses kicked and he says "Yeah, we sucked today. Such and such didn't do their job and we got our $%!^ pushed in." I never knew that calling your subordinates that let someone get killed dumbasses was unprofessional.

Lee Vance couldn't lead a bunch of pre-schoolers in a game of musical chairs.

@ 1:50 PM It may not have been unprofessional, but in a would shaped in large part by trial lawyers, the future lawsuit is bound to include his statement to help hammer home how half assed those JPD field officers performed.

Besides he's a Lumumba appointee and those are thankfully an endangered species these days.